Bay of Plenty will compete in the Inaugural Representative U19 Sevens Tournament at Arataki Park today, along with Auckland, Waikato and Northland.

Bay of Plenty v Waikato. Photos: Tracy Hardy.

From 10am, the four provincial unions will compete against each other in an Under-19 Boys' grade, while BOP, Auckland and Waikato make up the U19 Girls' grade.

Paul Tietjens will coach the boys' team, while former Black Fern and current BOP Women's Seven's coach Victoria Grant will coach the girls' team.

Bay of Plenty player development manager Kyle McLean says they have selected the best players from last week's BOP Secondary Schools Sevens Tournament. There were more than 50 teams involved from 15 secondary schools.

'The aim of the tournament is to develop a pathway for sevens players into the BOP Mens Sevens team to participate at the Bayleys National Sevens at Rotorua in January, 2016.

'Being provincially based teams means there is a chance for any athlete to be selected from any school, if they show the right talent and dedication.”

The tournament links with the Bay of Plenty Unions' strategic aim to be the home of sevens in New Zealand.

The summer of sevens continues next weekend, November 14, with the Baywide Club Sevens tournament at Eastern Districts RFC at Paengaroa.

Waikato with the ball.

Northland v Waikato.